Vehicle-to-vehicle communication using drones focusing antenna beams

Abstract

A drone communication system is described. Using the system, a method may be executed that includes: when a recipient vehicle is out of wireless range, transmitting a message, from a sending vehicle, to a plurality of drones that are focusing antenna beams on the sending vehicle so that the plurality then may transmit the message to the recipient vehicle by focusing antenna beams thereon.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 determining, relative to a first vehicle and a second vehicle, a drone configuration of a plurality of drones to minimize phase delay between the plurality and the first vehicle, between the plurality and the second vehicle, or both; 
 receiving, at each of the plurality, a message from the first vehicle; and 
 transmitting, to the second vehicle, the message via a conformal wavefront, the wavefront being based on the configuration and respective-drone phase delays. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the message further comprises reconstructing the message using a first set of phase delay parameters, wherein each parameter is associated with one of the plurality and the first vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving further comprises focusing an antenna reception beam of each of the plurality on the first vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the message further comprises calculating a second set of phase delay parameters, wherein each parameter is associated with one of the plurality and the second vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting further comprises focusing an antenna transmission beam of each of the plurality on the second vehicle. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to determining the configuration, determining to establish drone-to-drone communication among the plurality. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to determining the configuration, determining to assist in vehicle-to-vehicle communication between the first and second vehicles. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the configuration while receiving and transmitting the message and while the first and second vehicles are moving. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising altering the configuration to minimize phase delay between the plurality and the second vehicle prior to receiving, from the second vehicle, a reply message intended for the first vehicle. 
     
     
       10. A system, comprising:
 a plurality of drones each having a processor and memory storing instruction executable by the respective processors, the respective instructions comprising, to:
 determine, relative to a first vehicle and a second vehicle, a drone configuration of the plurality to minimize phase delay between the plurality and the first vehicle, between the plurality and the second vehicle, or both; 
 receive, at each of the plurality, a message from the first vehicle; and 
 transmit, to the second vehicle, the message via a conformal wavefront, the wavefront being based on the configuration and respective-drone phase delays. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise: while receiving, to focus an antenna reception beam of each of the plurality on the first vehicle; and while transmitting, to focus an antenna transmission beam of each of the plurality on the second vehicle. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise: prior to determining the configuration, to determine to establish drone-to-drone communication among the plurality. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise: prior to determining the configuration, to determine to assist in vehicle-to-vehicle communication between the first and second vehicles. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise: alter the configuration to minimize phase delay between the plurality and the second vehicle prior to receiving, from the second vehicle, a reply message intended for the first vehicle. 
     
     
       15. A system, comprising:
 a plurality of drones each having a processor and memory storing instruction executable by the respective processors, the respective instructions comprising, to:
 determine, relative to a first vehicle and a second vehicle, a drone configuration of the plurality; 
 receive, at each of the plurality, a message from the first vehicle by reconstructing the message using a first set of phase delay parameters, wherein each parameter is associated with one of the plurality and the first vehicle; and 
 transmit, to the second vehicle, the message via a conformal wavefront, the wavefront being based on the configuration and respective-drone phase delays. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further comprise to transmit the message by calculating a second set of phase delay parameters, wherein each parameter is associated with one of the plurality and the second vehicle. 
     
     
       17. A system, comprising:
 a plurality of drones each having a processor and memory storing instruction executable by the respective processors, the respective instructions comprising, to:
 determine, relative to a first vehicle and a second vehicle, a drone configuration of the plurality; 
 receive, at each of the plurality, a message from the first vehicle; 
 transmit, to the second vehicle, the message via a conformal wavefront, the wavefront being based on the configuration and respective-drone phase delays; and 
 alter the configuration to minimize phase delay between the plurality and the second vehicle prior to receiving, from the second vehicle, a reply message intended for the first vehicle.